California and Virginia.

I hold temporary licenses in other states. However, if you live outside of California or Virginia, I generally cannot work with you as a therapist.

If you are seeking therapy, I can help with a variety of problems. Common topics that people explore in therapy with me include feelings of anxiety, stress, depression as well as finding a path in life, work issues, and maintaining healthy relationships.

It depends.

If there is something that could be helpful, I will assign a journal entry, reading, thought exercise, or anything that could be helpful.

24 hours notice.

If you do not cancel your scheduled appointment more 24 hours before the scheduled appointment time, you will be charged the full fee for therapy.

You cannot use your insurance to cover the cost of a missed appointment, so this will be an out-of-pocket cost.

Currently, $210 per 45-minute therapy session and $300 for a 60+ minute session.

I have a sliding scale for folks with lower income (i.e., rate decreased 10% to 30%) because of my commitment to racial and economic equity. However, those slots are all currently full. Feel free to inquire about the waitlist.

All major debit/credit cards.

I have a waitlist, but the timing of getting into therapy can be variable. Therefore, I encourage you to review the Resources page or seek out other options.

The first full session (after the phone consultation) is an initial consultation. During this 50 minute session, I will gather information about your needs, background, and discuss what I can offer.

This session does not establish a professional relationship. This session is used to determine what services would be best for you as a client, which is based on the professional opinion of the psychologist.

I may also determine that you require services that I cannot offer. If this is the case, I will provide you with a list of referral options..

I take privacy very seriously!

I use a HIPPA compliant software system to send/receive secure messages and hold video sessions. I also use end-to-end encrypted applications like Signal and Virtru to safeguard my text and email communications. Jitsi Meet can be used as an encrypted video platform upon request.

The California Department of Insurance that helps you understand your benefits. Per their website, “All insurance policies sold in California are required to provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services.

Health insurers must provide equal coverage for mental and physical health issues. Insurers cannot limit your number of visits or put other restrictions on mental health treatment that are greater than those for other medical benefits.

As part of this requirement, insurers are required to cover Applied Behavioral Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder.

If you have any questions about your mental health coverage, contact the Consumer Hotline at the Department of Insurance (1-800-927-4357) for assistance.

Most private health insurance plans provide some level of out-of-network reimbursement. If you see the terms “POS”, “PPO” or “out-of network” on your insurance card then you are likely eligible. If you see “HMO”, “Medicare” or “Medicaid” then you probably do not.
Ask these questions when speaking to your insurance company about benefits:

How much of my deductible has been met this year?

What is my out-of-network deductible for outpatient mental health? (Outpatient means treatment outside a hospital.)

What is my out-of-network coinsurance for outpatient mental health?

Do I need a referral from an in-network provider to see someone out-of-network?

How do I submit claim forms for reimbursement? (Claims are forms that are sent to your insurance company to receive reimbursement for sessions you paid for out of pocket).

No.

I can provide out of network services for most insurances. I provide a Super Bill at the end of every month so that you can submit claims to your insurance. You will need to contact your insurance company to verify your out of network benefits.

I provide you with a document called a Superbill that you send directly to your insurance company at the end of each month. The Superbill details how many sessions you’ve had, and the total fee.

A superbill does not guarantee that an insurance provider will pay for the services provided. Each insurance plan is different, and it is your responsibility to contact your insurance provider and find out exactly will be covered.

You’ll need to pay your therapist (me!) the entire session fee at the time of service, but depending on your specific plan, your insurance company will mail you a check to reimburse a portion of that cost.